A framework for the sustainable management of water resources in Lake Chad

Abstract

Suffice to say that the sustainability of water resources requires implementation of frameworks that consider the socio-economic, political, and environmental realities of the region of concern. For instance, Lake Chad, one of Africa's oldest lakes, has for past decades be enconfronted with a series of environmental challenges threatening not only the socio-economic livelihood of its surrounding populace but also the entire region’s development. Agriculture,fishing, livestock farming, and transportation are the most lucrative economic activities that populations benefit from the lake presence; population growth and exploitation of natural resources attributable to the lake presence have been a curse rather than a blessing.Uncontrolled development of irrigation schemes, cattle rearing, dam construction, and soil enrichment with chemical fertilizers have led to pollution and fish-number depletion,significantly increasing pressure on the lake's ground and surface resources, affecting its sizeand natural resources endowment. What’s more, climate change leading to droughts, floods,and unpredictable rainfalls/failed rainy seasons, terrorism caused by Boko-Haraminsurgencies, political instability, and population growth have all had a negative effect in the lake's ecosystem. These have caused inter alia, population displacement leading to climateand political refugees. To address these challenges, a series of efforts were set up at the national and regional level, including the creation of the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC)in 1964 under the Fort Lamy convention to manage the basin's resources for the region's sustainable development. However, sixty years since it was created, the LCBC continues tobe confronted with a series of challenges that defy its authority as an institution of basin management. Lack of funds and uncoordinated action have been detrimental to the LCBCmanagement of water resources. The flaws of the LCBC in water management led to theformation of the Water Charter in 2012, the first binding instrument concerned with waterresources management in the basin. However, not all states have ratified the convention,making the full implementation of its provisions to ensure water resources sustainability in the region difficult. Thus, implementing an Integrated Water Resource Management (IWRM) that promotes a holistic framework for a long-term adaptive and resilient management of water resources, protects the ecosystem, supports local livelihoods, and promotes regional cooperation, is essential, if not crucial, for the future of Lake's Chad water resources and its dependent populations.